Velocipede



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-8heet 1. J. S. COPELAND.

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

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WAS.

WIT-NE 5:555 5 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. S. COPELAND.

VELOOIPEDE.

v Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

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(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 4.

J. S. COPELAND.

VELOUIPBDB.

No. 391,947. Patented 0015.30.1888.

7 n lfl g? I 2 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J.- S. COPELAND.

VBLOGIPEDE. No. 391,947.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FI E.

JAMES s. COPELAND, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, Assienoa frro rope MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or roa'rLANa -Amn- VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,947,,dated October 30,1889.

Application filed November .13, 1887. Serial No.255,956. tNn model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JAMES S. Coastline,

' Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certainnew and. useful Improvements in Vclocipedes, of which he o lowing is a tipecificatimh My improvements relate more particularly to that class of;- veloeipedes known as triv cycles, and. especially to the construction of atandem tricycle,or a tricycle adapted for the use of two riders; and the objects of my improvements are to produce a practical and eflicient tandem tricycle adapted for the use of one or two or more riders, and also aconvertibletamh-m-4l1at is to say, a tricycle which can be changed readily by the rider from tandem into'a single tricycle adapted for one-rider only-and also to produce-atandem tricycle in whichthe steering may be'cfl'ected through proper mechanism'by either one or both ridersfand' also a tandem tricycle in which astrong and eifieicnt brake may be operated by either one or both riders, and also a tandem "'and'ioperation, which will be apparent from the followingldeseription and from the accompanying drawings, which exhibit my improvements applied in a convertible tandem, frontsteering, handle-bar guiding, double-steering, and double-brake action tricycle.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation from the left-hand side of the machine the front wheel, one maindriving wheel, frame, and other parts of a tandem tricycle, the main axle being shown in vertical section on a plane hetwecn theleft-hand main driving-wheel and the frame, and said left-hand driving-wheel and balance-gear mechanism not being shown. Fig. 2 shows, also, in side elevation from the right-hand side of the machine the handlebars and part of the frame and connections of the same machine. Fig. 3 shows in perspectivea portion ofthe frame-work adjacent to the middle part of' the maiiraiilc; and Fig. 5' shows the same parts as Fig.*3,but in vertical longitndinalsection. Fig.8 shows in top plan the handlebars and connections; and Figs. 4, 5 6,7, 9, 10, and 11 show details of construction, I as will be more fully explained in the follow "ing description.

A is a main driving-wheel on aniain shaft, T, and B is a guiding-wheel held between the steering-fork arms 0 G. V

D is a foot-rest, oue of which may be arranged on eitherside the stceringfork for resting the front ridcrs foot in coasting.

G is an extension of the steering head or 6 spindle connected rigidly with the fork 0.1

E is a handle-bar snpportingrod held adjustably by a clamp, c", in theextcnsion C.-

-To the upper end of the supporting-rod E are attached the handlebars F F,whicll1 may be in one continuous piece or-otherwise eonstrueted and attached to thesupporting-rod' in any desirable manner, so that when the handle-bars F F are vibrated about the axis of the support E the wheel Bwill be accordingly 7 5 deflected. r l e ff are handles, and similar handles, h h, are on the handle-bars H H, supported'upon the red 1, these parts being constructed sn'bsta'n-' tially as the corresponding parts, F, F, and E. The red I is supported so as to he vertically adjustablein the tubular arm N of the'framc.

' To the outer end of the handle f, or prefen ably to the end of the handlefb'ar F,ou one side of the machine, -I attach, as shown'in verytical section in Fig. 11, a neck, f, threaded as atf and secured by a nut', f, and having at its outer end a ball, f. This ball f is held freely in a socket, G", on the end of a connecting-rod, G G. 'To the other handle-bar, H, I 99 attach in a similar manner a neck, h",which is held by a ball similar. to f in a socket, G similar to Gfland attached to'the other end of the connecting-rod G. I make the connecting-rod G in two parts,- G andG, the latter being 1101- low or having a cavity, asg, and a split lug, as g, and screw or bolt, as y; so that the connecting-rod may be extensible or contractible.

an opening in one side of the socket substana complementary portion of the seat for the,

ballf, and also with a split lug, g and screw or. bolt g, for securing the screw-cap g in position when it has been adjusted. When the ball f has been inserted in the cavity the screw-cap g is screwed inward until the ball f is adjusted to a free but secure seat in the socket. Then the screw g is tightened and all parts are held together. The socket g is constructed in a similar manner, and it is obvious that when the two handle-bars F and H are connected in this manner any movement of one about the axis of its support will cause a corresponding movement of the other. It is also obvious that by this construction of connecting-rod, sockets, balls, and necks, and extensible device in the conuectingrod not only universal joints and parallel motion of the handle-bars are obtained when they are in the same plane, but also that either handlebar maybe raised or lowered without raising or lowering the others, to adapt it for different heights of riders,and still the connecting mech 'anism be correctly adjusted to preserve and transmit the proper motion of the parts in any difi'erent plane, and that thus the steering of the tricycle may be effected equally well by either the forward or therearward rider, or

by both simultaneously.

The main frame of this tricycle is tubular in construction, and consists of a reach, K, which extends from a position substantially midway over the main axle by an inclination downward and forward,and then upward over the steering-wheel, as shown in the drawings, this shape of the reach adapting it to receive connectionsi'wilh the forward pedal and drivingmechanism near its middle part in such a" position as to permit a lady to rideon the forward seat of the machine without obstruction to her dress. The frame further consists of a .nearly upright tubular column, L, and brace rear seat. The forward end of the reach-K' is attached to a socket, K, which has hearings on the steering-head, spindle, and extension 0, and the construction of the steering-head and socket and spring and other connections withthesteering-whecl and the forward handlebars, which I preferissubstantially the same as shown in my appl ication Serial No. 229,134, filed February 28, 87, for a patent thereon,

and need not be more particularly described here, since it is obvious that any well-known suitable construction ofsteering-head meehano ism may be used in am-achine having my present improvements.

The upright L and the brace M may be attached together and to the reach K by brazing or by lugs, or in any well-known manner; but I prefer to attach the rear end of the brace M by means of a forged or cast bracket, M, having a tenon to receive the tubular brace M,

a sleeve part to inclose the reach-K, a lug, M,

for attachment of part of the brake mechauso ism, and two arms, M. M, for carrying the main bearings on the main shaft-one on either side of the sprocket-wheels and brake-drum at the middle portion of the main axle. I attach the reach K to the back reach, N, by means of 8 a forged or east lug, N, on the back reach, N, and a tapered tenon, K, secured to the reach K and extending through the back reach, N, and its bracket N, and secured there by a nut, n. I

Near the middle of the compound main axle T, I mount two sprocketwheels, R B, and a brake-drum, V, and each side of these, one of the arms M is supports by a hinged case,

m m m, about a bearing, which I prefer to make an anti-friction ball-bearing, and is held thereon by means of the bolt in. The upper half of the case at, I extend backward, so as to form a lug; m, on each side for the attachment of the arm N on the back reach. In Fig. 3, t t are the hub-flanges of a main driv- 'ing-wheel. on the main shaft.

In the construction of this tricycle I prefer to use a compound main-axle mechanism consisting of an inner and an outer axle and a balr05 ance-gear mechanism connected therewith, so as to constitute the machine a double driver--- that is, so that both wheels may be driven and may take different speeds on curves-and I prefer to use in this construction the same no mechanism as described in the application of Harry M. Pope, Serial No. 229,173, filed February 28, 1887, the details of which mechanism need not be further described here, since it is obvious that any other axle mechanism may be I l 5 used in a machine containing my present improvements.

The back reach, N, is formed to support'the handle-bar supporting-rod I, and I prefer to construct it, as shown in sectionin Fig. 6,with :20 two clamping-sleeves, n and a, and their, bolts and screws n n, and an inserted split sleeve, 1', so that the handle-bar support I may be adjusted vertically in height to asnit able-position for different sizes of riders and [25.

still. be held from any vertical motion when it is set in position, but allowed to vibrate or partially rotate about itsaxial line in its support. In carrying out this the inserted piece I may be clamped or tightened to the red by 1 0- means of the'ciamping-ring it in any position, the clamping-ring a resting freely on the upper side of the ring a, which latter has an inwardly-projecting lip, n, resting upon theoutwardly-projecting flange, I, on the insert and this flange 1" rests freely on the top of the tube N. When the clamping-ring n" is set, it binds only the tube N, but does not bind the flange I, which latter, with the tube l, is free to revolve -inthe. upper end of the .t-ube N. Below the bracket N", fixed to the back reach, N, -and having the arms N N to engage IO. and beremovably secured to the lu s m by means of the bolts n, thus completing the attachment of the'back reach of the frame, the bottom of theupright pillarO maybe attached by means of a bracket or in any suitable mannor to the back reach, N, and the topof it may be formed either :with a clamping-ring ani a split endor with a set-screw for the. reception and securement 0f the rear seat-supporting rod, p. The saddls P P maybe of any desired construction and mounted on suitable springs, as pp,- which in turn are mountedon the seatsupportiug rods p p, held, respectively, at p and p adjustahlyin any required vertical po- .25 sition to suit different heights of riders.

Near the lower middle portion of the reach K, I attach, by means of a forged or cast brackct, Q, a sprocket-wheel, Q. and a. fixed axle,

Q, and cranks Q, and balls Q, for the forward o rider, and I connect this sproeket-wheel'w'ith the sprocketwheel R on the main shaft by 1 means of'an endless-chain, 2', these parts being of any suitable or usual construction.

To theback reach, N, near its lower portion,

' I attach, by'means of a bracket, S, a sprocketwheel, S, with its fixed shaft S, cranks S, and balls'S', for the feet of the rear rider, and I connect this sprocket-wheel S with the sproeketwheel R on the main shaft by means of an endo less chain, 8, and theseparts may also be of any suitable'or usual construction. I make these endless chains s with a detachable link or links,-so that it can be removed when the other parts'are removed, as will be hereinafter explained. i

- On the handle-bar F, I place a brakelever,

' X, fnlerumed at w on the bar Fand connected at its shorter end, as at w, to a few links,x', of chain, preferably for flexibility, which chain a." is connected with a light steel brake-pullin two parts, X X, overlapping upon each other and adj ustableor detachable together by means of the small clampX and screw a. The lower end of this brake-pull'X is connected with a few links of chainfw, bearing upon the guidepulley .k, and so, by means of the strips or rods X X and the links of and guide-pulley k, to the lug w on the bell-crank brake-lever W. I also place at the handlebar H another brakelever,Y, fnlcrn med at y to thehan'dle-bar H and connected at y with the chain-links y, andso to the brake-pull Y Y, made of twoparts of light steel bars overlapping each other and held by J the'small clamp Y and screw y, and the lower part of this brake-pull Y is connected with the lug w on the bell-crank brake-lever W.

The bell-crank brake-lever W, I -pre fer to.

construct, as shown'in Fig. 4, with the lugs 2 w hinged or fnlcrnincd on the screws or trunnice-joints w'won the reach K or the bracket N, by which it is attached to the back reach. N. The lever W also has the arm 20 and lug 'w for the attachment of one brake-pull, and the bent arm W", carrying a lug, w, for the attachmentofthe other brake-pull, and also with a lug, 'w'flfor the attachment of one cud of a band-brake.

shaft and fixed to rotate with the sprocket wheels R It, as I have before described; Around and upon this drum is a brake strap or band, U, held by loops it and the pin u, or in any other suitable manner, to the brake lug w on the bell-crank brake-lever, and'at the other end by the loops u and pinto, or otherwise, to the brake-lug M on the bracket M, .and this band-brake is of such length as to her, free from the brake-drum, except when power is applied through either of the brakehandles to operate the belhcrank brake-lever. When the bell crank lever, however, is operated either by the pulling upward of the lug w or the pulling forward of thelng 20?, or both, the lug w on its bent armwill be forced forward, carrying the brake strap U tightlyabout the'drum, and so retarding the progress of the machine. The brake-pulls X X and Y. Y 1 are made in two parts, adjustable in length not only for securing them in one proper length for operatingthe brake and leaving it free from contact." when the brake-handles are not operated by the rider, but alsofor the purpose of allowing the brake-pull to be shortened or lengthened, according as the handle-barns raised or lowered in its support for different heights of riders;

the brake maybe effected by the hand of either together. i It will now be also obvious from the deeycle for operation by the'rear rider maybe removed and the tricycle converted into a single tricycle by simply loosening the screw g ing the not 9" of the brake mechanism, removing the nuts n and n n of the frame mechanchain S, and alsothathy a reverse process the attachments for the rear rider may be as readily brought and secured in position.

-It is obvious that. modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the various parts of my improvements without departing from the substance of my invention; and I do not mean to limit myself to the precise' things shown and described.

I. claim as new andofmy invention- 1 Thc'eo'mbination, in a velocipede, oftwo handle-bars'and handles, two bal'l-and-socket joints, and a connecting-rod.

nearly surround the brake drum, and may be held by a spring, U,'or in any suitable mam rider upon the brake-lever X orY or by both and cap g of the steering mechanism, 'remov The brake-drum V is mounted on the main It isalso obvious now that the operation of scribed constructionthat the parts of this triism, and slipping a detachable. link of the 2. The combination, in a velocipedc, of two handle-bars and handles, two ball-and-socket joints, and an adjustable connecting-rod.

3. An improved attachment toahandlebar, consisting in a curved neck or shank having at one end a threaded tang and set nnt for adjustment to the handlebar or handle, and at the other end a ballfor attachment to a connecting-rod and socket.

4.. An improved detachable connecting rod constructed with a socket at each end and an opening to admit a ball, and a holding screwcap and a locking device in each socket.

' 5. .An improved detachable and adjustable connecting-rod constructed in two parts extensibly and with a locking device, and with a socket at each end, and an opening to admit- -a ball, and a holding-screw and a locking device in each socket.

6. An improved universal joint device consisting in a ball and its neck, a cylindrical socket with an opening in the side to receive a ball, a seat for the ball eccentric to said opening, a holding-screw carrying a complementary seat, and a locking device.

-7.' The combination of handle-bars F H, necks f h, balls f h, sockets G G, openings g g", holding screw-caps g 9, locking devices 9 g, connecting-rod G G, and locking device 9' g, constructed andcombincd to operate essentially as set forth.

8. In a vclocipede, the combination, with a band-brake and its drum, of two separate brake-pulls and connections, constructed for 30th separately and conjointly operating the rake.

9. In a velocipcde-brake mechanism, a corn.

pound bell crank lever, as W, having two pull-arms, asw w, and pull-lugs, as w and w, one or more fulcrum-lugs, as w, and a brakelug, as 10 constructed to operate essentially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the frame of a velocipede, of two brake levers, as X and Y, a band-brake and its drum, and one or more belhcrank levers, apull, and connections constructed, essentially as set forth, for operating the brake in connection with the fronthandie-bar mechanism or the rear handle-bar mechanism, or simultaneously by both.

11. The combination, with the frame .of a velocipede,and with a band-brake and its drum and its end lever, as Y, and their connecting devices, of an adjustable pull, as Y Y, and

securing devices, as Y 3 constructed to opcrate essentially as setforth.

12. The combination, with theframe'and main axle of a velocipedc, of a brake-bracket, as M, constructed with a stub or tenon to re ceive a part of the frame, as M, and with a brake-lug, as M, and with arms, as M M, and with main bearing-clamps for connection with the main axle and its bearings, essentially as set forth.

18. The combination, in a velocipede, of forc reach, K, back reach,,N,brackets M and N, arms N N M M m m m m m m bolts n n,

I tcnon K, and not a, constr ncted to operate-es scntially as set forth.

14. The combination, in a velocipede, of handle-bar support I, pillar N, lipped sleeve 1 I, clamping-rings n n", and bolts 12 a, con structed to operate, essentiall y as set forth, both in the vertical support and adjustment of the handlebars and in the free rotation of the handle-bars in steering.

15. The combination, in a velocipede for two riders, of two transverse handle-bars, as

-F F and H H, each supported on a. vertically-adjnstable rod partially rotative in the frame, and each connected with the steeringhead and guiding-wheel for effecting the steer ing by either or both riders, essentially as set forth.

16. The combination, in a velocipede for two'riders, with two transverse handle-bars,

each supported on a vertically-adjustable and.

partially-rotative rod in the frame, of two brake-levers, as X Y, each connected by an adjustable piill with the same brake for opera- .tion byeither or both riders, essentiallyasset forth.

17. The combination, in a velocipede for two riders, of two transverse handle-bars, each supported on a vertically-adjustable and partially=rotative rod in the frame and each connected with the steering-head and guidingwheel for effecting the steering by either or both riders, and two brake-levers connected one with each handle-bar, to be adjusted and rotated with it, and each connected by an ad? jnstable pull with the same brake, for operation by either or both riders, essentially as set forth.

18. Ina velocipede, atransversc handle-bar,

as H H, a vertically adjustable and rotative supporting-rod, as I, a brake-lever, as W, and

an adjustable brake-pull connected with the brake, and-an adjustable guide-rod, asGl, connected with the steering mechanism, alt detachably constructed and combined with the front guidingwheel, steering-head and spintile, and handle-bar, and frame, and drivingaxle, and crank-shaft, and driving-gear of the velocipede, essentially as set forth.

19. An improved'tandem tricycle consisting in two main driving-wheels and their axle mechanism, twosprocket-wheels and a brakedrum thereon, a fore reach, a. driving mechanism and chain, and a back reach, a secondary driving mechanism and chain, a guidewheel, a front steering mechanism with adjustable front handle-bars, and secondary adjustable rear handle-bars, and two adjustable seat mechanisms and steering and brake mc'ch 'anisms connected with both the front handle bar mechanism and the rear handle-bar mechanism, all constructed to operate essentially as set forth.

JAMES S. COPELAND.

\litncsses:

D'AVIDJ. Posr, EDWIN S. HoUsE. 

